City of Rochester / NYSERDA

News Release

(Tuesday, April 22, 2014) – The City of Rochester and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) cut a ceremonial ribbon today — on Earth Day — to signify that the City’s new plug-in electric vehicle charging station project is complete. Deputy Mayor Leonard E. Redon, City Department of Environmental Services Commissioner Norman Jones, City Council Vice President Dana Miller, Councilmember Michael Patterson, Senator Joseph E. Robach, Senator Ted O'Brien and John B. Rhodes, President and CEO of NYSERDA, helped usher in a new era of clean transportation, cutting the ribbon on two charging ports at the City Hall parking lot, 30 Church Street. In addition, 22 more charging ports at six other City-owned parking lots and parking garages around the city are now online.

“The City of Rochester is committed to efforts to promote sustainability and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and we are pleased, particularly on Earth Day, to announce the availability of electric vehicle charging stations to the public,” said Mayor Lovely A. Warren. “They contribute to a network of electric vehicle charging stations being installed across New York State, providing the necessary infrastructure to promote and increase the use of plug-in electric vehicles. We are thankful for the assistance received from NYSERDA to help us further these important goals.”

NYSERDA provided $225,000 toward the stations’ total cost of $365,000. Funding from NYSERDA came through Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's Charge NY initiative, which has created a statewide electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The remainder of the funding was provided by Federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality funding.

“As we celebrate Earth Day, this project highlights the importance of reducing emissions from the transportation sector, which is responsible for approximately 40 percent of the greenhouse gases emitted in New York State,” said John B. Rhodes, President and CEO, NYSERDA. “Governor Cuomo’s Charge NY initiative is helping to develop an electric vehicle infrastructure across the state and provide cleaner and more efficient transportation alternatives for New Yorkers.”

A total of 24 charging ports are available at the following locations:

As part of this pilot project, customers will be able to use the electric vehicle charging stations free of charge for one year. Spaces for electric vehicle parking are clearly designated and the stations are connected to an online network called ChargePoint-- where users may find available charging stations for their electric vehicles and, if applicable, pay for service using the Internet or smartphone. ChargePoint users receive an access card which activates the charging station, making it available for use. To use the new charging ports, electric vehicle owners must sign up for a ChargePoint account and receive an access card from www.chargepoint.com or by calling 1-888-758-4389.

NYSERDA will be gathering usage data for each charging event from the charging stations, including vehicle charging time and average power and energy usage per charging event to help determine usage patterns for the stations.